Jim’s Blog

Wanting a Model T in this day and age doesn’t really make much sense. But who says car people have to be reasonable?

Here’s the thing: I drive a comfortable, connected, safe, brand-new GMC truck every day. It’s perfectly suited to life in the real world — the world full of cell phones, cup holders, and distracted driving. But when it comes to just having fun, I don’t think there’s a way to beat a good Model T.

Oregon is a rainy place, but starting around May, the sun starts to peek out, and the days turn from grim to bright. There are two local events that capitalize on that change and mark the start of the Pacific Northwest’s car season: the pair of Portland Swap Meets in early April, and the Portland Transmission show — always the Saturday before Mothers’ Day.

My brother-in-law Cameron is a high school teacher here in Oregon, and the school where he works owns some land that includes a run-down house and a big yard. The school uses the house to store stuff — chairs, desks, lawn equipment, etc — but some of the original owners’ things are still around, seemingly abandoned when they left.

With thousands of parts spread out over what seems like sprawling square miles of space, the dueling Portland-area swap meets — the Portland Swap Meet and the PIR Swap Meet, both taking place the same weekend every April — have literally everything you’ll ever need for your project. This year I wasn’t on the hunt for anything specific, but Read More

February is here, and that means spring isn’t far away. If you put your car away for the winter months, it’s time to start thinking about getting it ready for the road again. That sunny Saturday will come sooner than you think — and when you’re out driving your old car in the crisp, early spring air, you’ll be glad you were ready for it. Here are the five things you should Read More

Every January, nearly 3,000 collector cars ship out to sunny Arizona, where they cross high-profile auction blocks in six different locations in the Scottsdale area. The cars draw in thousands of bidders and spectators, and they typically bring in some hefty sales totals.